32d Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday, November 11, 2018

The love of God as an expression of faith of a man manifested in sacrificial deeds is a central theme of the readings today. The first reading shows a great thrust of a widow of Zarephath who in spite of her poor life condition was able to do everything to God’s case. For a few months she was feeding a prophet Elijah although she was poor and taking care about her young son. It has to be known that at the time of Jesus the status to be a widow means to live in very poor condition and bagging before temple or gathering sticks in the field. The poor widow in the temple from today’s Gospel is likewise a good example of a deep faith. She put into the treasury two small coins worth a few cents. This deed of her is contrasted to the big donations of many rich people and especially to the scribes who by their external appearance and ostentation behavior shows the people their superiority over others. One is certain: they don’t do this for the love of God but rather for their vain selfish love. Jesus ask to be beware of those kind of people because their lives no leads to God and has nothing to do with God. On the contrary the example of the poor widow is worthy to follow because it is always seen by God. The sacrificial life of the simple people as an effect of their trusting in God is a step to understand the offering of life of Jesus Christ on the cross for the salvation of the world. This way, every human who gives his time, talents, goodness, and most of all his suffering, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, take a part in the work of salvation gained by Jesus on the cross.